Leafs Trade Kapanen to Penguins
The @Toronto Maple Leafs have traded winger @Kasperi Kapanen to the @Pittsburgh Penguins.
About seven hours before puck-drop between the @Boston Bruins and @Tampa Bay Lightning, two surprise exits from the qualifying round were busy setting up their future.
The Maple Leafs have sent Kapanen along with @Pontus Aberg and @Jesper Lindgren to the Penguins in exchange for the No.15 overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, @Evan Rodrigues, @Filip Hallander and David Warsofsky.
Toronto was without a first-round pick in 2020 after sending it to the @Carolina Hurricanes in the @Patrick Marleau trade last summer. This deal gets them back on the clock in the first-round and frees up cap-space. Kapanen has two years left on his contract that carries a $3.2 million cap-hit (per PuckPedia).
If you remember, Kapanen was originally drafted No.22 overall by the Penguins back in 2014 but never appeared in a game with Pittsburgh. Kapanen was the key part in the trade that sent @Phil Kessel to the Penguins back in 2015. In 2019-20, Kapanen scored 13 goals with 23 assists (36 points) in 69 games.
The rest of the Trade:
To PIT:
- – Lindgren was a fourth-round pick of the Maple Leafs in 2015. Had nine points (1G / 8A) in 31 games with the Toronto Marlies in 2020.
– Aberg signed with Toronto last summer and spent most of the 2020 season in the AHL, scoring 20 goals with 24 assists (44 points) in 55 games.
To TOR:
- – Rodrigues was traded to Pittsburgh in February as a part of the @Conor Sheary / @Dominik Kahun trade. He had six goals and four assists (10 points) in 45 games between Pittsburgh and Buffalo. He is a pending restricted free agent.
– Hallander was a second-round pick of the Penguins in 2018. The 6-foot, 190 lbs. centre had five goals and nine assists (14 points) in 27 games with Lulea HF of the Swedish Elite League in 2020.
– Warsofsky has one year left at $700K and spent all of 2020 in the AHL, where he led Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defensemen in points with 33 (10G / 23A) in 51 games.
What Twitter is saying:
The #LetsGoPens acquired Kasperi Kapanen, Jesper Lindgren, Pontus Aberg from #LeafsForever for Evan Rodrigues, Filip Hallander, David Warsofsky & 2020 1st Round Pick (15th overall).
Trade Summary & full player details:https://t.co/j0XWBs7EFs
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) August 25, 2020
Kasperi Kapanen (traded to Pittsburgh) is a good third-liner. pic.twitter.com/wNV4PkMD9r
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) August 25, 2020
I’m all for trying to get Crosby and Malkin roster help while they’re still good but the Penguins just gave the Leafs 4 assets (pick, prospect, useful player, cap space) for a player everyone knew they wanted to move
— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) August 25, 2020
Rutherford: "Kasperi is a good, young player that brings speed to our lineup and plays the way we want to play. Having previously drafted him, we know him as a player and feel he can improve our top-6." -MC
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) August 25, 2020
With this year's draft being as deep as it is, I don't think it's a stretch saying whoever is selected at 15th overall will end up being the best player in today's Leafs-Penguins trade.
— Daniel Slater (@dslatertv) August 25, 2020
Toronto really likes Hållander. Smart, competitive player. Early option to sign Rodrigues if there’s a deal to be made. They pick up a much needed 1st round pick and shave $3.2 million in cap space. Impressive trade.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) August 25, 2020
The thing about cap “problems” is that they’re not really problems when the league values the players on your books.
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) August 25, 2020
Past 14 months Rutherford has made 9 NHL trades:
Maatta for Kahun and a 5th.
Kessel, Birks, 4th for Galchenyuk and Joseph.
6th for Marino
Gubranson for Martinsen and 7th.
Galchenyuk, Addison, 1st for Zucker.
Blandisi for Varone
3rd for Marleau
Kahun for Sheary/Rodrigues
And below https://t.co/zmYDWGKimJ
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) August 25, 2020